Tube closure or header



May 13,1930. B, QFHN' I 1,758,909

TUBE CLOSURE OR HEADER Filed April 1, 19 27 2 Sheets-Sheet l gwbmto'c .HERBERT B. CoFF/N Ma 13,1930, B, FFI 7 1,758,909

T I. IBE CLOSURE 0R HEADER Filed April 1, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG? H fivwemtoz HER BER T .B COFFIM 351 Buy a t Irma Patented May 13, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HERBERT B. COFFIN, OF ROSELLE PARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR' TO STANDARD OIL DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE TUBE CLOSURE OR HEADER Application filed April 1,

This invention relates to improvements in end closures or header boxes for tubes containing fluid under pressure. The invention will be fully understood from the following description, read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a vertical central section through a preferred form of the device;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation, looking in the direction of the arrows on line II--II, Fig. 1, the sealing plug and locking cap being removed;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the sealing plug and locking cap; and Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the locking block.

Referring to the drawings, reference numeral 1 denotes a box or header having openings 2 and 3 for receiving the ends of tubes 4. 4. Removable closures 5, identical in construction, are fitted in the header and opposite the tube ends. This is the usual arrangement where it is required to have access to the interior of the tubes for cleaning them. It will be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to any particular number or relation of tubes and closures. The ends of tubes 4 may be expanded as at 6 to hold them in header 1.

The closure of the present invention comprises a sealing plug 7 having a head 7 on the under. side of which a. rounded rim 8 is formed. An incline-d groove 8 on the header serves as a seat for rim 8. A flange 9 extends around the margin of the header and between the flange and rim there is an annular compartment 10. Flange 9 has regularly spaced recesses 11 on its inner margin (Fig. 2).

A locking plate 12 (Figs. 1 and 3) has projections 13 adapted to. slip through recesses 11 and to travel in compartment 10. Locking plate 12 has a central screw-threaded opening 14. A set screw 15 is mounted in this opening. A locking block 16 (Fig. 1) prevents movement of plate 12. This block has an altitude greater than the depth of the compartment 10. The block should fit tightly and for convenience in removal it is formed with a perforated projection 17. Sealing 1927. Serial No. 180,086.

plug 7 has openings 18 in which a tool may be engaged for taking out the plug.

The operation of the device is as follows: When it is desired to close the header, sealing plug 7 is laid with its rim 8 in groove 8, and locking plate 12 is placed over flange 9 so that its projections 13 will slip through recesses 11. Locking plate 12 is then turned to bring its projections under the unrecessed portion of the flange. Lock 16 is inserted in a recess 11, preventing the plate 12 from rotating. Set screw 15 is turned to force the-rim 8 of sealing plug 7 tightly into groove 8.

The closure can be easily unfastened, when desired, by loosening the set screw, takin out the block, turning the locking plate an drawing it out to release the sealing plug.

The closure is safe and easy to operate, even in apparatus run at very high temperatures and pressures, such as tube installations for cracking petroleum oil. The device may be used to close a T-fitting or the like, as well as in connection with headers or conplings adapted to establish communication between two or more tubes.

An important advantage of the invention is the elimination of screw threaded joints accessible to the fluids in the pipe. Such screw threaded joints are liable to corrosion and sticking or seizing of the parts. To avoid this, so far as possible, expensive alloys such as Monel metal have heretofore been used in cracking coil header box closures. The present device may be economically made of steel without danger of serious corrosion. A further important advantage is the fact that the sealing surfaces are all interiorly arranged, so that danger of damage by the pipe cleaning tools is minimized.

Various changes and alternative arrangements may be made within the scope of the appended claims, in which it is my intention to claim all novelty inherent in the invention as broadly as the prior art permits.

I claim:

1. A tube closure comprising a box receiving the end of a tube and having an opening therein. a seat in the box, a sealing plug adapted to fit tightly against the seat and close said opening, an exterior in-turned flange on said box and having-recesses on its inner margin, a locking plate having projections adapted to slip through said recesses, 21

compartment beneath said flange and adapted to receive said projections so that they lie under unrecessed portions of the flange, a removable locking block adapted to fit into one of the recessed portions of the flange and into the registering space therebelow between projections on the locking plate and means for forcing the sealing plug against the seat.

2. A tube closure according to claim 1 in which the seat comprises an inclined groove around the opening and the sealing plug is provided with a rim adapted to be seated in the groove.

HERBERT B. COFFIN. 

